England icon Wayne Rooney has now powerfully explained the similarities between Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne alongside a beloved Manchester United legend.
Bruno Fernandes has had a sensational impact at the Red Devils and the 31-year-old talented midfielder remains an integral part of the first-team squad at Old Trafford.
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The Manchester United captain has netted 104 times and registered 99 assists in 315 matches for the Red Devils since his arrival from Sporting CP in 2020.
Fernandes, who is often viewed as United’s best signing post-Sir Alex Ferguson, has lifted both the League Cup and the FA Cup during his prolific spell at the club.
The Portuguese midfielder’s influence still remains strong in the 2025-26 season, with Fernandes netting six times and registering 13 assists in 25 matches.
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Man Utd icon Wayne Rooney tells Sam Allardyce his comparison between Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne
Bruno Fernandes crossed paths with former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne during his fair share of Manchester derbies in his spell at Old Trafford.
Kevin De Bruyne left Manchester City at the end of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign and completed a free transfer move to Serie A side Napoli last summer.
The 34-year-old Belgian playmaker is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League midfielders of all time after his stunning impact at the Etihad.
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Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Wayne Rooney pointed out the risk-reward factor that Manchester United star Fernandes and Napoli ace De Bruyne offered.
“You want players to take risks,” he told Sam Allardyce.
“If you look at the two players in the Premier League over the last six years, say, who’ve had the most assists, created the most chances, it’s probably Bruno and Kevin de Bruyne.
“And they probably give the ball away more than other players on their team, because they take a risk, but then you get the rewards for that.”
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Wayne Rooney puts Bruno Fernandes and ex-Man City star Kevin De Bruyne in the same bracket as Man Utd legend Ryan Giggs
Rooney shared the pitch with Ryan Giggs in his legendary playing career and he felt that his fellow Man Utd icon was similar to both Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne.
“Ryan Giggs was very similar, Giggs used to always do it,” he continued.
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Rooney added: “And they give the ball away quite a bit at times, but then they create that one magic moment, which helps you win the game.
“So, but what you’re saying there, when you go into a meeting, I’ve done it when I was captain or when I was manager.”
Ryan Giggs is Man Utd’s all-time leading appearance maker and one of the best Premier League players in history after his remarkable playing spell at Old Trafford.
The 52-year-old ex-Wales winger lifted all 13 of the Red Devils’ Premier League titles under legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
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